Select Video 2 summary if you did not watch the video
God will accomplish His plan and will in this world, but He often does it in ways we would not expect and through surprising people. God is in the business of surprising us by using those who are weak, broken, outcast, questionable, and ordinary to accomplish his extraordinary plans in this world.
1. Many of the people God called to follow him and do great things had excuses or reasons they thought God should not use them. What are some of the common excuses people still use today when they want to get out of following God’s leading for their life?
|
2. When God called Abram to follow Him, there was a clear sense of partnership. God promised to do specific things and also called Abram to do His part (Gen 12:1 – 5; The Story p 13). What was God’s part and what was Abram’s part in this great adventure?
Abram’s part: “go to the land that I will show you”
God’s part: “I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you”. |
3. What do you learn about Abraham and Sarah’s faith from Hebrews 11:8-9 (a summary of The Story, p 13-20)?
Abraham obeyed his calling. He was obedient even though he didn’t understand the big picture and what it meant. Instead of waiting until everything was revealed to him he: ·
|
4. Tell about an older person in your life who has been a model of faith and love for God. How have you seen their life impact the lives of others and yours?
“You think you’re too old, you think you have missed your chance to do something big, something significant. That’s the way we think in the Lower Story. But if we align our lives to God and what He’s up to, some of our best years are still ahead of us.”
|
5. Abraham and Sarah were called by God and they followed him in faith. Tell about a time God called you to take a step of faith. How did you respond and how did that step of faith turn out?
|
6. Sarah did not think God was moving fast enough with the whole “nation building project.” So, she decided to help God by giving her handmaid to Abraham to bear a child for her. Give some examples of ways we jump ahead of God’s timing for our lives in an effort to “help” him. Tell about a time that God said, “Wait,” but you wanted to rush ahead. Why is it so hard to be patient and wait on God’s will for our lives?
7. Abraham and Sarah chose to follow God by faith and trust that He would build a nation through them – and He did. What step of faith is God calling you to take now; but you are still waiting or even resisting? What can you do to take a trust-filled step and move forward in this area of your life?
8.
Read movement 2 of The Story (See Definitions). What is the big theme of this second movement?
God will build a nation that He can use to reveal His presence, power and plan to get us back. God will also reveal His plan through foreshadowed events and prophecies that will point to the first coming of Jesus.
|